The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-02-10
osTERHAus,s DIVISION.
II Had Hand in the Battle OF Lookout Mount
nj

ain.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | have patient
IN waited and anxiously watched for some COM
rade of Gen. Osterhaus's First Division, of the
Fifteenth Corps 10 move forward on the skir-
mish-line and show through your columns the
part performed by that division at the battle OF
Lookout Mountain, about which the Nhlte
Star boys are having so much fun. III Is wei
known TO history that the above division was
cut Off from the rest Of its corps by the break
ing of the pontoon bridge the evening before
the battle, and by orders from Gen Grant was
temporarily attached TO the command OF
Hooker, where il remained and took an active
part in The battle Of Lookout, Missionary hldge
aud Ringgold, or raylor's Ridge.
At Lookout Mountain our division occupied
a position on the extreme left of llookors line,
our left resting on the Tennessee River at the
north base Of the mountain, at the mouth OF
Lookout Creek. The rebel works were on the
opposite side OF the creek, extending around
the base of the mountain from the north point
10 well around the west side.
Early in the morning of the day OF the battle
our division was manuvered in PLAIN view ana
short rifle range of the rebel works, and hnaily
CHARGED DOWN TO THE CREEK,
all Of which was done TO attract attention,
while the White Star boys were gaining posi-
ton on the left flank of the enemy, which they
did in good style, causing the rebels 10 abandon
their whole line at the base and fall BACK on
their main works about half way up the mount
ain.
our division then bridged the creek, crossed
and advanced up the north face of the mount
ain and took these works in flank, making II
possible for the White Star boys TO plant their
flag on the summit the next morning
/ have a very distinct recollection OF march
ing, or rather climbing, up that mountain
through the clouoa, coming out under cleaI
sky soaking wet. and of fighting up there until
- o'clock at night, during which time the First
/ Division of the Fifteenth Corps dld ali the
! fighting, and
REFUSED FOUR CONSECUTIVE ATTACKS
from the rebels, who were trying 10 dislodge
us and regain the mountain. The right OF my
regiment extended up TO the base of the pail
SADIE of rock on the top. The rebel lett In none
Of these assaults extended beyond the center OF
| our regiment After the assaults ceased We
\ lay on our arms until morning without fire
and suffered with cold intensely. Early in the
morning We moved down the east side OF the
mountain while the White Star boys were
! planting their flag on the top, crossed the
! valley, waded the creek and took possession Of
! Missionary Ridge and the rebel works without
firing gun.
We had but a short time however TO con
graduate ourselves on our easy success, wher
/ Breckinridge's Division of rebels was down or
us on the double-quick. We had such an ad
vantage by being in rear of their works thai
we soon turned them back and captured large
part of the division. The First Division of the
| Fifteenth Corps and one Indiana regiment o.
Hookers Corps, supported by the balance o
| the White Star boys, did all the fighting tha
was done under Hooker at Missionary Ridge
The next morning we started in pursuit o
the enemy. Our division was IN front, anC
skirmished all that day with the rear-guard
picking up great many prisoners. Early
next morning We
FOUND THEM AGAIN
posted on Taylor's Ridge, at Ringgold, wher
our regiment and the 10th Ohio got seriousl,
cut up by Pat Cleburnes Division, after getting
on both our TANKS, through Hooker's neglec
10 have his White Star boys protect them. i
was here, while our two regiments were fighting
hand-to-hand with one of the best fighting di
visions in the rebel army, that Gen. Butterfeld
Of Hooker's staff, rode up 10 Grant, who wa
watching the fight, and pointing toward us re
marked:
There, General, is the way Joseph's mel
fight meaning Hooker.
Gen. Grant, in his quiet way, replied
"Yes, p Joseph 0sterhaus."
/ don't wish TO reflect on the White Sta
boys for they fought grandly at Lookout (bu
they did not do il ALI and on the Atlanta cam
paign they kept up their front, and were goo'
fighters, foragers and stayers generally. i ex
pect this modest effort will bring down Who'll
brigade Of the White Star boys on me, but
shall expect support from the old First Division
of the Fifteenth Corps.-E. c. MOUNT, Co g, at
Iowa, Guthrie Center, Iowa.